ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp's priority bill to limit lawsuits and large jury verdicts cleared another hurdle amid mounting pushback and is set for a House vote this week. A number of House Republicans were skeptical, and not just trial lawyers.
But Kemp made concessions, and the bill advanced out of the House Rules committee Tuesday. Crowds of business owners and doctors swarmed the Capitol to back Kemp when he announced the proposal, also called tort reform . People who had sued businesses in recent weeks rallied as Democrats argue the bill is a handout to businesses and insurance companies.
Millions of dollars have gone into lobbying for and against Kemp’s package. Here are some reasons are people are concerned and how Kemp tried to address them. Victims sound alarms Kemp’s bill would require anyone who sues a business or property owner over misconduct or injuries on their property to prove the owner knew about a specific security risk and physical condition on the property, but didn’t provide adequate security.
Business owners, trucking companies and others say they are threatened by expensive court verdicts or settlements. Women who were sex trafficked and raped at hotels begged lawmakers to oppose the bill as written. “Surely, the hotel would notice, with 40 cars coming in and out at any given moment .
.. the girls walking around in their underwear, never alone, never speaking unless spoken to,” Michal Roseberry, a human trafficking survi.